Towards the very end of the book, Phoebe is riding a carrousel while Holden watches her. Then, Holden becomes really happy all of a sudden. This blog will contain my thoughts on this part of the book.
I think that Holden becomes really happy for multiple reasons. First off, before this happened Phoebe was really upset with Holden before, and he was trying to cheer her up and now she isn't upset anymore, so obviously he is quiet happy about that. Second off, he realizes that he really does want to stay at home with his family for a while instead of going to the other side of the country. He is happy about this decision. Phoebe was ecstatic about that too, which made her twice as happy.
I think that the Carrousel symbolizes a bit of innocence. Even Phoebe thought she was too old for it, but really I think no one is, especially someone as young as her. She was filled with happiness while on the carrousel, and got on it multiple times. Holden loved seeing her on there. He loved seeing someone he cared about having fun on a device with wooden horses that spins around in circles playing the same song over and over. It showed a happy childhood at it's best. It completely shows innocence, and with that you can't help to happy. All the bad things that are replayed in someone's in their head just stop for a few minutes. It is a great feeling to feel young again; no worries. To just enjoy life as it goes and to be constantly smiling because of the little things in life.
To Holden, it didn't matter that it was raining. He was happy and content. Which are things that he had not been in quite some time. He was so content, he didn't get on the carrousel with Phoebe when she asked; he just wanted to sit and watch and to take it all in while this completely sweet, genuine moment lasted.
Salinger, J. D. The Catcher in the Rye. Boston: Little, Brown, 2001. Print.
No comments:
Post a Comment